Discussion on why Medicine is a science not an art; The Science of Medicine, Hippocrates

Why you might read the Science of Medicine?

The Science of Medicine gives us more insight. Especially into how Hippocrates separated the Charlatans and the actual practitioners. It follows on from his previous work to define good practice and good science.

In my Self Education project, it fills the role of completing a corpus. While it may have only a little to add by itself it is a part of a greater whole of what Hippocrates wrote.

The content of the Science of Medicine

The Science of Medicine covers Hippocrates arguments for medicine as a science. He argues against it being an art. He covers it both in the positive, that it is a science. He does this via arguments about a physician being able to learn from his patient's condition. That this learning lets him better help future patients. He also covers some of the objections. For example, the idea that even some untreated patients get well, while some who are treated die. He explains this by saying that the one that gets well has followed the advice a practitioner would give. Though he does so unknowingly and that is why he gets well. While the one who dies he says is likely not to have followed the advice given through lack of strength. 

Hippocrates also spends some time discussing the difficulties of treating internal diseases. Because they cannot be seen often they are given remedy far to late and the disease wins.

Reflection on the Science of Medicine

Hippocrates is almost a Philosopher with his arguments in this work. I am a little surprised in fact at how much of this he has done. How little, so far, has been written about the actual practice of Medicine.

We see again Hippocrates' passion for the role of Physician. How much he wants to protect the position from the falsehoods that are around. This is especially true as he works through objections to medicine being a science.

What others have to say about the Science of Medicine.

From Dr Axe "Still to this day medical doctors and historians consider Hippocrates to be the founder of medicine as a “rational science.”"

Comparisons to other texts

This text is really a continuation of The Oath and The Canon as it continues to expand upon the nature of medicine and what it is to be a good practitioner. It continues to expand upon the idea that medicine can be learned both from a teacher as well as through scientific methodology. So that a practitioner never stops learning from his patients' conditions and taking that to the next patient.

Conclusion

This text is Hippocrates proving that medicine is a science. He does this by first proving the positive and giving reasons why this is so. He then spends time dispelling the questions and ideas against his point. Finally, he distracts himself a little with a discussion on internal diseases.

Have you read The Science of Medicine? If so what did you think of it? 

 
Want to read The Science of Medicine but haven't? Please leave me a comment and let me know why you want to read it.

Hopefully, this post inspires you to take the time to look into it on your own journey of Self Education.

Get a copy of The Science of Medicine.

Biblical Stories as plays; Everyman and Medieval Miracle Plays (1-5), Various Unknown

Why you might read the Miracle Plays?

The Miracle plays are a snapshot of how Medieval England saw the stories of the Bible. They were not produced by the church but rather were put on by the local guilds, for example, the shipwrights guild. They were common across England with slight variations. I am just reading a collection of them rather than each version. This makes them great to compare how Christianity was understood across time, even if they are not directly about doctrine.

For my Self Education project, they fill this role. They allow for a greater understanding of the way in which faith was a part of everyday life in medieval England. This will be important when I get to read more of the church fathers. As a narrative, it shows the development of the play in the English speaking world.

Stories of the Miracle Plays 1-5

The creation, and the fall of Lucifer

This play covers who God is and his creative power. It focuses on the creation of the angles. Specifically the creation of Lucifer as Gods second in charge. Lucifer becomes conceited with his beauty and greatness. He oversteps the line and asks to be worshipped alongside God. At this moment he is thrown out of heaven and into hell. We then see him lamenting his new position with another devil. The scene then moves back from heaven as the heavenly host work out how to work without Lucifer as a guide. They turn toward God and he is worshipped.

The creation of Adam and Eve

This play covers again God and his creative power. This time as God creates man. He commands the earth to make a form of a man. Then takes his rib and forms woman. Then finally tells breath to make them alive. This play ends with the man and woman, being named Adam and Eve. They then worship God.

The fall of Man

This play covers the deception of Eve by the serpent. The play does designate the serpent as Satan. The serpent uses the line of eating this will make you like God. First, though he spends some time running down what God had said. It is the make you like God that convinces Eve. She then goes on to convince Adam who eats as well. He instantly laments what he has done and states that he is naked. They resolve to sew together fig leaves for coverings. When God comes to the garden they hide. When God finds out what they have done, he curses them and has the angles throw them out of paradise.

Cain and Abel

This play covers the sacrifices made by Cain and Abel. As well as the Slaying of Abel by Cain. It starts by detailing how Adam asks the two brothers to make sacrifices. It has Abel explaining why he gave his best and can explaining why he gave his worst. This is missing in the Bible account. God accepts Abel offering but not Cains. Cain is angry at this and slays his brother. God asks Cain where his brother is and he complains he is not his brother's keeper. God knows what Cain has done and drives him away and curses him as punishment.

Noah's Flood

This play covers from Noah being told to build the ark, to Noah being told to go forth and multiply. Noah's family is present when he is told to build the ark. Together they build the Ark and house the animals. The ark has a mast in this account but does not in the Bible. Once everything is set his wife refuses to get on the ark but eventually is persuaded and just in time. They are on the ark 40 days and then Noah releases both a raven and a dove. He does this only once unlike the account in the Bible. The dove returns with an olive leaf and Noah and his family get out of the Ark. God then promises to never flood the world again. He also gives the rainbow as a sign.

Reflections on the Miracle Plays 1-5

The Creation, and the fall of Lucifer

This is a story that is only alluded to in the Christian bible. So the specific details while in line with what we know are fabrications. That being said it is all in line with the bible accounts.

The focus on the greatness of God is to be expected in this work. that being said it is interesting how much time is taken just to glorify him. 

The portrayal of Lucifer is interesting. You do not see any of the sinister action and working directly against God. Those actions are attributed to Lucifer later in the narrative in the bible.

The creation of Adam and Eve

This story mashes together the creation of Adam and Eve. In the Christian bible, there is some time between Mans creation and woman. Other than that it sticks to known facts and even contains the dominion given to man over the animals.

The fall of Man

Satans line to Eve that she will be like God is pretty standard for this narrative. But this play takes it a little further and he tells her they will be like gods and worshipped. It's the worshipped part that is an additive here. Here we start to see Satan or Lucifer being more deceitful and conniving.

Cain and Abel

This play again expands on the story as it is given in the Bible. It is interesting to see how people interpreted why Cains sacrifice was unacceptable. The version given is the most likely but it is not something the Bible is specific about.

The start of the play also adds Adam emploring his sons to give sacrifices. This is an interesting interpretation. It could have been at Adams prompting or it could have been at Gods promoting. Again the Bible does not say.

Noah's Flood

Having Noah's wife be rather cantankerous is quite a change. There is no mention of her behaviour in the Bible. It is interesting to see that at least in Medieval England there was this version of her.

It is almost off-putting to see Noah reference Christ and the Apostles. He could not know of them as their place is much later in the timeline.

What others have to say about the Miracle Plays

From Mr Donn "During Medieval times most plays were religious and were used to teach people about the Bible, the lives of saints, or how to live your life the right way."

From Brittanica "By the 13th century they had become vernacularized and filled with unecclesiastical elements. They had been divorced from church services and were performed at public festivals"

Comparisons with other texts

The Main comparison here is with the Bible. I have noted some of this in the discussion and summary of the stories.

Generally, the Plays take the story and embellish it. In most cases, these seem logical and are nice additions to the narrative. But the addition of an almost rebellious wife to the Noah story seems a bit out of place. Noah and his family are chosen because of their righteousness so it makes no sense that she would not obey her husband.

Conclusion

The stories so far have been from Genesis in the Bible. They tend to be embellishments of the stories. They have covered The fall of Lucifer, the creation and fall of man. As well as the first murder and the great flood. This is not the end of the collection. Rather it is the start and there will be two more posts on these miracle plays as well as the everyman play.

Have you read The Miracle Plays? If so what did you think of it? 

 
Want to read The Miracle Plays but haven't? Please leave me a comment and let me know why you want to read it.

Hopefully, this post inspires you to take the time to look into it on your own journey of Self Education.

Get a copy of The Miracle Plays.

More descriptions of Illnesses he treated; Epidemics 3 (no you didn't miss one), Hippocrates

No, you didn't miss a post. Epidemics is a work of seven books. Only the first and third were written by Hippocrates, therefore they are the only ones I'm covering here.

Why you might read Epidemics Book 3?

Epidemics 3 starts off where Epidemics 1 leaves off. It is where Hippocrates' is most specific in his descriptions. His descriptions are of diseases in the populace. This gives us insight into how often sickness was fatal. Also, we get insight into how illnesses were seen and what symptoms were important. 

In my Self-Education project, the insight into early medicine is a great boon. This is because it gives insight into the life and times of people. It is information about the troubles of everyday life. Rather than the positive stories we see in the Greek plays.

The Content of Epidemics Book 3

This book starts with descriptions of individual cases. These cases include the symptoms broken down almost daily. As well as whether there are positive or negative signs. Finally, they finish either with the patient's death or his or her recovery. The third section of this book is more of the same.

The second section covers the weather in the area during the year of writing. This is used to relate to the illnesses that are common in that same time. In this Hippocrates gives us a general overview of how the populace handled disease. He also tells us what turns deadly and what is just an illness passing though.

Reflections on Epidemics Book 3

When you look at the structure of the book it suggests that maybe this is book two and a half and three. It is almost as if the back part of another book of the same ilk has been added to the start of book three. When you compare it with book one that is.

It is hard to predict from the symptoms given which patients would survive and which would die. Illness length also seemed to have no bearing on the outcome.

What others have to say on Epidemics Book 3

Perseus Digital Library points out that"Of the forty-two cases, twenty-five end in death, very nearly 60 per cent.". Which is a surprisingly high mortality rate.

 Comparisons to other texts

This text is basically a continuation of Epidemics Book 1. It covers new material but in the same format and general type of information. Its biggest difference is that it both starts and ends with individual cases. by comparison to Book one only ends with these cases.

By contrast, the Canon tells us about the Physician. What attributes they must have. This piece concentrates only on the illness' themselves and the patients they inflict. Yet it is surprising it does not give much detail in the way of treatment either.

Conclusion

In all Epidemics Book 3 is just an extension of what we have already seen in Book 1. This being said that does not make it without value. We still gain greater insight into the illness' of Hippocrates' time. 

We have discussed how this work differed from some of Hippocrates' other works. As well as looking at the death rate through what others have written about the work.

Have you read Epidemics Book 3? If so what did you think of it? 

 
Want to read Epidemics Book 3 but haven't? Please leave me a comment and let me know why you want to read it.

Hopefully, this post inspires you to take the time to look into it on your own journey of Self Education.

Get a copy of Epidemics Book 3.

A description of the illnesses he saw; Epidemics Book 1 , Hippocrates

 Why you might read Epidemics Book 1?

Epidemics is where Hippocrates' is most specific in his descriptions. He is mainly describing diseases in the populace. Through this, we get insight into how often sickness was fatal. Also, we get insight into how illnesses were seen and what symptoms were important. 

In my Self-Education project, the insight into early medicine is a great boon. This is because it gives insight into the life and times of people. As such it is rather different from reading Greek plays, for example. It gives me a look into the troubles of daily life rather than the positives of great stories.

The Content of Epidemics Book 1

Hippocrates starts with a description of the weather for a given year in his city, Thasos. He then looks at what were the general illnesses in those seasons. He rounds this off with what illnesses turned fatal. This is repeated three times. In this discussion, Hippocrates goes into great detail about symptoms. Whether these symptoms are typical or Atypical of the general illness. There is also a lot of talk of excrement and other bodily discharges. This is most likely because it is one of the easiest visible symptoms at that time.

The second portion of the book is fourteen specific cases. These cases include the symptoms broken down almost daily. As well as whether there are positive or negative signs. Finally, they finish either with the patient's death or his or her recovery.

Reflections on Epidemics Book 1

The specific cases were rather interesting to me. I found it difficult to predict whether someone would recover. So some of the deaths seemed to come from nowhere. It is interesting to note that some of the time the patient seemed to be recovering only to keel over dead.

In the first section, the listing of what was typical as symptoms for a given illness was quite interesting. I found myself trying to work out what the illness would be called in the modern-day. Unfortunately, I don't have that much medical knowledge so I could not name them. Some sounded like the common cold or flu though.

The other thing that was interesting was Hippocrates' use of the word consumption. He uses it to mean all sorts of lung illnesses. Rather than the meaning, it developed later, which was as an early name for tuberculosis.

What others have to say about Epidemics book 1

From Perseus Digital Library "each medical reader will enjoy the task of diagnosing them for himself. Several cases are difficult, but the section on Hippocratic diseases in the General Introduction should enable even a layman to identify many."

Comparisons to other texts

Hippocrates' focuses on food in Traditions in Medicine. I wonder if that is related to the focus on bodily discharges that we see in this text. As I have said this focus on discharges is probably due to it being easily observable. My thought is if what we eat affects those discharges normally. If those discharges are what is observed, I think it follows that a focus on both is necessary.

This is the first book we have seen of Hippocrates that it focuses on symptoms. Yet we see him make a comment of do no harm early in the book. This mirrors the principles he set out in the Oath. Though the oath goes into it in more detail. I must have still been in the front of his mind for him to mention it in a work, not about ethics but rather symptoms.

Conclusion

Epidemics book 1 is about the diseases of Hippocrates' local area. As well as how they are exhibited in different people. It then looks at fourteen specific cases. Following their symptoms from start to finish. Whether that end is recovery or death. I commented on how I could not predict from the symptoms who would recover. As well as how sometimes people seemed to recover and then died. We looked at how even in this unrelated text Hippocrates still comments do no harm,

Have you read Epidemics Book 1? If so what did you think of it? 

 
Want to read Epidemics Book 1 but haven't? Please leave me a comment and let me know why you want to read it.

Hopefully, this post inspires you to take the time to look into it on your own journey of Self Education.

Get a copy of Epidemics Book 1.

BONUS POST: The second 50 of the BC list

 

Having just passed the 50th book on the BC list it's time to give you the next 50 on the list!

I'm looking forward to Plato though I wonder how long it will take me to get through his stuff!

Hippocrates Of the Epidemics

Hippocrates The Science of Medicine

Hippocrates On Airs, Waters, and Places

Hippocrates The Book of Prognostics

Hippocrates On Regimen in Acute Diseases

Hippocrates Aphorisms

Hippocrates Dreams

Hippocrates on the Nature of Man

Hippocrates A Regimen of Health

Hippocrates On Fractures

Hippocrates The Seed and The Nature of the Child

Hippocrates The Heart

Hippocrates On the Sacred Disease

Hippocrates On the Surgery

Hippocrates On Hemorrhoids

Hippocrates On Injuries of the Head

Hippocrates Instruments of Reduction

Hippocrates On the Articulations

Hippocrates On Fistulae

Hippocrates On Ulcers

Aristophanes The Acharnians

Aristophanes The Clouds

Aristophanes Lysistrata

Aristophanes The Birds

Aristophanes The Knights

Aristophanes Peace

Aristophanes Plutus/wealth

Aristophanes The Frogs

Aristophanes The Ecclesiazusae

Aristophanes The Thesmophoriazusae

Aristophanes The Wasps

Xenophon Agesilaus

Xenophon Anabasis

Xenophon Apology

Xenophon On the Art of Horsemanship

Xenophon The Constitution of the Athenians

Xenophon The Constitution of the Lacedaemonian

Xenophon On the Cavalry Commander

Xenophon Cyropaedia

Xenophon Economics

Xenophon Hellenica

Xenophon Hiero

Xenophon On Hunting

Xenophon Memorabilia

Xenophon Symposium

Xenophon Ways and Means

Plato         Apology

Plato         Charmides, or Temperance

Plato         Cratylus

Plato         Critias

BONUS POST: First 50 Books in the BC list with links

Last week we passed the 50 books mark on this list. So it's about time I gave you updated lists. First, this one with the 50 all linked and then a list of the next 50.

unknown         The Epic Of Gilgamesh

unknown         Egyptian Book of the Dead

Homer         Iliad

Homer         Odyssey

Various         Rig Veda

Hesiod         Shield of Heracles

Hesiod         Theogony

Hesiod         The Works and Days

Confucius The Analects

Confucius The Doctrine of the Mean

Confucius The Great Learning

Lao Tzu         The Tao-te Ching

Sappho         Collection

Aeschylus Agamemnon

Aeschylus The Choephori (The libation bearers)

Aeschylus Eumenides

Aeschylus Prometheus Bound

Aeschylus The Suppliants

Aeschylus The Seven Against Thebes

Aeschylus The Persians

Sun Tzu         The art of war

Sophocles Antigone

Sophocles Oedipus the King(Oedipus Rex)

Sophocles Oedipus at Colonus

Sophocles Ajax

Sophocles Electra by Sophocles

Sophocles The Trachiniae

Sophocles Philoctetes

Herodotus Histories(the Persian war)

Euripidies Alcestis

Euripidies Hippolytus

Euripidies Iphigenia in Tauris

Euripidies Ion

Euripidies The Trojan Women

Euripidies Helen

Euripidies The Bacchantes

Euripidies Medea

Euripidies Hecabe

Euripidies Electra

Euripidies Heracles

Euripidies The Heracleidae

Euripidies The Phoenissae

Euripidies Orestes

Euripidies The Suppliants

Euripidies Iphigenia At Aulis

Euripidies Andromache

Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 1 and 2

Hippocrates The Oath 

Hippocrates The Law

Hippocrates On Ancient Medicine

A focus on food; Traditions in Medicine, Hippocrates

 Why you might read Traditions in Medicine?

Hippocrates is generally known as the father of medicine. In this work, he explains why he doesn't hold to the belief of the time that sickness is related to four attributes. As such he interacts with the beliefs of the day and shows us how he can see they are wrong and what he looks to instead. This gives us insight into his understanding. As well as the general understanding of those he disputes.

It is important to my Self-Education project for the reasons above. It is also essential for the collective understanding of Hippocrates. To read only a few of his works would leave me with a less complete understanding. I also expect ideas to be reoccurring and building on each other. So I see this work as a stepping stone to other works of his.

The Content of Traditions in Medicine

Hippocrates starts by proving that Medicine is a science. At least that medicine is discovered by experimentation. As it has everything to do with what we eat, he steps us through the discovery of what foods suited man. He contrasts this with what would happen if we ate what was good for the horse for example.

He spends time discussing how the postulate of health is determined by Hot vs cold and wet vs dry. He shows it to be slightly ridiculous by giving examples. In these examples, it is impossible to tell which of these four attributes the food that is given is. He then leads us back towards his understanding. This is that what we eat determine our health and recovery from sickness.

He spends time talking about the strength of some foods and the weakness of others. He explains that gruel was created as the weakest of foods. But he also goes on to say that gruel will not work for all sicknesses. Where gruel works, it would make the sick person miserable to give them bread. Which is much stronger and hence harder to digest.

He goes on to again speak against those who treat based on the four attributes. He goes so far as to say that they probably recommend the same things as those who practice based on food. They give different reasons for these treatments.

Hippocrates rounds out the book by discussing what causes disease. He says that there is not enough evidence to say he someone got sick because they changed their routine. like they got rained on while they walked. He instead suggests that disease comes from the overabundance of the forms. Things like salt or sweet or astringent. 

Reflections on Traditions in Medicine

While he is said to be the father of modern medicine his ideas still differ from those of the modern-day. We have gone away from the idea that food is medicine. We may still have the old saying "feed a fever, starve a cold" but we do not put much stock in it. Hippocrates, on the other hand, sees it as the only remedy available to him. His views on strong and weak foods are also things we have moved passed.

His discussion on the causes of disease I found most interesting. He shies away from the idea that it is an unusual activity that brings on the disease. He gives examples like taking a cold bath when you do not normally. These days we might see these acts as affecting our immune system and so they have some effect. But we now have germ theory which Hippocrates was writing before we had arrived at that.

Speaking of immunity his theory on food does have some basis as what we eat does affect our immunities. So I guess Hippocrates did know something about what he was on about at least.

What others have to say about Traditions in Medicine

WHS Jones Ed. reminds us Hippocrates said, "that empiric medicine was in his day an old art, and that the attempt to foist the method of philosophy upon it was comparatively modern." and this is precisely what Hippocrates is arguing against.

Comparisons with other texts

Traditions in Medicine is the first of Hippocrates' works where we have seen a focus on the patient. In The Oath or The Cannon, he is writing about the attributes of the Physician himself. As such, this is the first time, we start to see his mind about what disease is. As well as how it is caught and how to treat it. We also see how Hippocrates interacts with the medical profession. In this text, he argues against the new view in favour of what he can test.

Conclusion

In this work, Hippocrates defends medicine as a Science. He does so by taking it to first principles and observation. He argues against the new view of medicine around him that is based on philosophy. His understanding of medicine orbits around the food we eat and how that helps us recover. He talks about the origin of disease as being based on imbalance but does not go into too much detail.

By comparison to his first two works that we have looked at, this one is focused on the patient. It focuses on medicine to be practised rather than the attributes of the physician.

Have you read Traditions in Medicine? If so what did you think of it? 
 
Want to read Traditions in Medicine but haven't? Please leave me a comment and let me know why you want to read it.

Hopefully, this post inspires you to take the time to loo
k into it on your own journey of Self Education.

Get a copy of the Traditions in Medicine